Health Snacks said they also want to collect recyclable
containers and bins and donate proceeds to local youth user groups.

The booth will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. everyday, with
more hours expected during special events or hockey league playoff times.

New information booth will provide better weather
protection

The municipality is installing a new $35,000 Village Host
Information Kiosk in the Village Stroll.

The portable kiosk will replace the current information
booth, which does not provide all-year weather protection.

“The existing kiosk is a small one and does not adequately
keep the weather out,” said municipal planner Melissa Laidlaw.

Money for the booth will come out of the municipality’s
revenue sharing program, the recently acquired four per cent hotel tax from the
province, which can be used as part of village enhancement services.

The new kiosk will be built with durable materials,
including wood, steel and glass, and would sport a slightly back sloping roof
to adequately drain rain and snow. It will also be able to hold up to two
people.

According to Laidlaw, there are no current plans for a
computer in the stall.

“There is not one proposed, but the designer indicated that
there is the potential for a computer terminal,” said Laidlaw.

Councillor Tim Wake commented that having information
personnel who do not rely on a computer for information leads to a more
personal visitor experience.

“Village hosts are so knowledgeable. Just giving them the
answer and not consulting a computer is so nice,” he said.

Laundro-bar considered as a solution to the local laundry
problem

Imagine a Laundromat combined with a bar. It would be a
place where singles could meet, do their laundry, and play pool all at the same
time.

Such a facility could become a reality, with at least one
councillor declaring he would approve this type of business during Monday
night’s council meeting.

Councillor Eckhard Zeidler said this business design could
be a great solution to deal with the public laundry problem.

“I will support a licensing application of a bar combined
with a Laundromat,” he said, adding that such Laundromats are already seen
across Europe.

Monday night’s discussion was sparked by a letter from a
member of the public complaining about the lack of public laundry services in
Whistler.

While councillors recognized the inconvenience of not having
a public spot to do laundry in Whistler, municipal hall cannot directly install
this resource. However, councillors can approve applications for public laundry
businesses

“This is a bit like the gas issue,” explained Councillor Tim
Wake.

“We can control where gas stations do not go, but if nobody
wants to put a gas station in town, then there is not a whole lot we can do
about it. At the same time, we should be doing everything we can to facilitate
this.”

The possibility of a Laundromat/bar is an idea that is
already being explored by some business people in town, according to Councillor
Ralph Forsyth.

“The word on the street from young entrepreneurs in town is
that there might be a move to do that,” he said.